Zucchini, Carrot & Apple Muffins

What do you make for a Mother's Day potluck brunch? MUFFINS!

My parents receive a weekly vegetable box which has been great: new, fresh, local produce day in and day out, but it has proven tricky incorporating all the food into a weekly menu before it spoils. As luck would have it I had this recipe saved and with this past week's veggie box including zucchini and carrots no food went to waste!

Check out these delicious sweet and savory zucchini, carrot, and apple muffins. They are flavorful, moist, and perfect as a snack.

grating away

Zucchini, Carrot & Apple Muffins

   credit to A Bountiful Kitchen for original recipe

   yields 24 muffins

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1 1/8 cups sugar
½ cup plus 2 tbsp sweetened coconut** 
3  tsp cinnamon
2 ¼ tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
¾ tsp baking powder 
4 eggs
3 cups peeled grated carrots
2 cups grated zucchini
2 cups grated apples
½ cup plus 1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp vanilla 

** Don't be afraid of the coconut! If you don't like the flavor it isn't even detectable so no sweat.

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare muffin/cupcake tins for 24 muffins.

In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, coconut, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Whisk together and set aside.

In another bowl lightly beat the eggs, oil, and vanilla together.

To save time and your nerves use a Cuisinart with the grater blade attachment to grate the zucchini, carrots, and apple. If you don’t have a Cuisinart, I apologize about the long grating process. Once these three ingredients are grated add them to the liquid mixture and stir together.

Pour the liquid-veggie/fruit mixture into the dry ingredients and fold in. And yes, the batter is thick.

Fill your muffin tins ¾ full and bake at 400 for ten minutes.

After ten minutes, rotate your tins and reduce the temperature to 350 and bake for an additional 6-7 minutes until the muffins are a nice golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

yummers

Let the muffins cool for about ten minutes before placing on a wire rack. Serve these warm or cold. They are a great combination of sweet and savory!

Enjoy!